OK, so getting ready to put out some little caches, and wanted some input. I was going to do some urban micros in Portland with magnets, and was thinking of using a little Airborne medicine container (cleaned, obviously). Got it all decked out and ready to go. Took a little Post It note pad (think paper flags) and drilled a hole in the sticky part of the pad and used a twist tie to secure them into a logbook of sorts. So, that one should be fine.

However, the next question I have is this: I have access to a large and continuing supply of chewing tobacco plastic containers. You know, the ones slightly smaller than a hockey puck. The labeling is easily removed, already basically camoed with black plastic, and cleaned out, I figured they would work very well. What do you all think? They still (after cleaning) have a slight minty odor from the tobacco, but am working on getting rid of that. Man, I'd love to be able to use them instead of throwing them out. I can make them into micros/magnetic without having to buy the ones online - money is super tight. Thoughts?

HStaples

11-10-2008, 08:01 PM

Oh crap, second question I had - anybody know of a local surplus store when I can get ammo canisters?

cachecrashers4

11-10-2008, 08:37 PM

As many of the veterans will tell you, many containers you think are watertight usually are not. There's nothing worse than getting to a cache and not being able to sign the logbook because it is soaked. Good luck and welcome to the sport.

HStaples

11-10-2008, 09:21 PM

As many of the veterans will tell you, many containers you think are watertight usually are not. There's nothing worse than getting to a cache and not being able to sign the logbook because it is soaked. Good luck and welcome to the sport.

Yeah, I figured as much - I'm putting my makeshift log books into snack sized ziplocs to further protect. Plus, I'm super dang local, and plan on being a rabid cache checker to make sure that they are not getting messed up. Thanks! :)

hide_from_the_kids

11-11-2008, 12:25 PM

Oh crap, second question I had - anybody know of a local surplus store when I can get ammo canisters?

i do believe mardens in waterville has some and there is a surplus store in augusta on western ave.

Team V3

11-11-2008, 12:26 PM

Army Barracks out by the Scarborough Walmart has a bunch. I go in there from time to time to drool over them.

HStaples

11-11-2008, 08:30 PM

i do believe mardens in waterville has some and there is a surplus store in augusta on western ave.

Oh really? I'll have to drive to Augusta - will do that come Thanksgiving time. Thanks! :)

HStaples

11-11-2008, 08:31 PM

Army Barracks out by the Scarborough Walmart has a bunch. I go in there from time to time to drool over them.

Whoa, wait - the Army Barracks there is a store? Or is it a real army barracks, and you're pulling my leg?

Team V3

11-11-2008, 10:38 PM

It is a store called Army Barracks. If you go to the Wal-Mart is Scarborugh (by the Mall) it is right across the street by the Bull Moose Warehouse store.

Trust me I would not lie about this. :)

They actually have some very cool stuff. Ammo boxes, paintball stuff, military cooking supplies.....

Check it out sometime.

HStaples

11-11-2008, 10:42 PM

It is a store called Army Barracks. If you go to the Wal-Mart is Scarborugh (by the Mall) it is right across the street by the Bull Moose Warehouse store.

Trust me I would not lie about this. :)

They actually have some very cool stuff. Ammo boxes, paintball stuff, military cooking supplies.....

You are welcome. I have yet to by an ammo box. My one hide is in a tupperware type container but I do want to get an ammo box for a hide before too long. I do like going to that store to browse, almost as much as the Bull Moose that is right next to it.

Besides, there is also a decent Chinese restaurant there too.

HStaples

11-11-2008, 10:52 PM

Yeah, I used to use an ammo box to keep my floppy disks in. Believe it or not. The smell still makes me think of an old 486 I used to have. OK, that's weird. Thanks gain for advice!

Team V3

11-11-2008, 10:53 PM

You are welcome! Enjoy!

Team V3

11-11-2008, 11:15 PM

The website for the store

http://www.armybarracks.com/index.asp

HStaples

11-12-2008, 12:31 PM

Woot! Thanks!

Haffy

11-12-2008, 06:30 PM

Cool and they even mention how good they are for geocaching too.

Team V3

11-13-2008, 10:10 AM

Of course they do spell it "cash" but oh well. :)

EvilHomer

11-13-2008, 12:43 PM

I just did a cache here in Orono that the final stage of a multi was a cheap plastic tool box. Of course when I opened it there was about an inch of water in the bottom of the box and everything was soaked. This tool box has like a 1/2 inch gap where it opens and does not secure really well. Sitting under a brush pile I can see this one going bad soon. I learned that those Folgers cans dont work well if they get really cold, and baby formula cans dont either. You have to have something with a screw top, or a rubber gasket seal. Anything less does not stand up to winter.

Team V3

11-13-2008, 12:54 PM

Good to know that coffee cans do not work well. I have a couple I have been saving for that purpose. Some people seem to swear by them. I figure the metal ones probably would not but wondered about the plastic ones.

hollora

11-13-2008, 01:25 PM

A mention about winter caching....if it is going to be poked, pushed, tunked and pryed out of the snow and ice - look at what you were thinking about using for a container and ask yourself, "will this survive that?" Also, if the location is in a place where no one would go in the winter anyway - no worries - or you could also disable it for the winter. Just some thoughts ~ for what they are worth.

Sabby

11-13-2008, 01:48 PM

When you want it to last and to be watertight I don't think you can beat the "ammo can". The only ones that I have seen damaged are a few that had a run in with a mowing machine used by road crews.

Mapachi

11-17-2008, 09:31 AM

When you want it to last and to be watertight I don't think you can beat the "ammo can". The only ones that I have seen damaged are a few that had a run in with a mowing machine used by road crews.
A little WD40 or any silicone spray on the rubber seals of the ammo cans, helps keep them from cracking or drying out. I have also used a little petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on them too.
I sand off any rust and re-paint them inside and out. These cans should last for years and years. It is easy to bring a can of WD40 and a can of spray paint on your yearly cache maintenance run.

Mapachi

11-17-2008, 09:39 AM

Good to know that coffee cans do not work well. I have a couple I have been saving for that purpose. Some people seem to swear by them. I figure the metal ones probably would not but wondered about the plastic ones.
If you wrap the plastic coffee cans in duck tape, it strengthens them alot. I tried to poke a ski pole thru one and could not. I will let you know this spring, how it fairs against a ski pole while it's frozen.

Opalsns

11-17-2008, 10:48 AM

I have 4 Folgers Plastic Coffee container caches,painted in the local cammo and sealed with indoor / outdoor clear spray. They've been out all summer and fall and they have held up well. The only one I had a problem with is the one a critter tasted. !!!! I am leaving them out this winter to see how they fare. One suggestion is to place them where they can stand upright, letting the cover do it's job.
Opalsns

HStaples

11-17-2008, 04:23 PM

Yeah, I did an Airborne medication (over the counter) type plastic container, but reinforced it with "Gorilla" black tape. Very heavy stuff. It had a good snap shut, but will watch it this winter to see that it holds up. I live very close by, so that one's easy. Other than that, I'm either doing magnetic nanos (no real winter issues there) or the ammo can.

But I'd still like to try a "dip" container - chewing tobacco cleaned out obviously. I might just give one a whirl - I have like 10 of them saved up by now. If they work well, that'll be awesome, until my supplier stops chewing!:)

vicbiker

11-17-2008, 05:33 PM

until my supplier stops chewing!:) I'm so glad that you added that last comment.:D